Honolulu’s
other ‘Fantasy’

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

Tokyo-based Square Co., Ltd. this week signed an agreement with Columbia Pictures for the distribution of "Final Fantasy: The Movie."

The company is breaking new ground with the Honolulu production of the first computer-animated motion picture with photo-real human characters. The company leased the Hawaii Film Studio at Diamond Head for three years that began late 1997. "Final Fantasy" is slated for release in 2001.

Columbia Pictures will distribute the film worldwide with the exception of Japan and Asia. Gaga-Humax will distribute the movie in Japan.

Square is known internationally as the creator of the popular "Final Fantasy" role-playing interactive entertainment series.

The fully digitized computer-generated film being produced here brings together more than 200 of the world's top creative minds in the computer graphics field, Square officials said. Production also is being done here at Square USA's downtown Honolulu Studio at Harbor Court.

"Square selected Honolulu for its second site in the U.S. because of its centralized location in the Pacific which has enabled us to maximize the most creative and experienced talent from all over the world, allowing them to explore their creativity to new realms," said Jun Aida, vice president of the film and entertainment division of Square USA.

Inspired by its interactive entertainment counterpart, "Final Fantasy: The Movie" takes place on Earth in the year 2065 and embodies an "ultimate fantasy" story about life and death. This will be the first attempt in movie-making history to simulate human emotions and movements through computer graphics, Aida said.